All of God’s Village Children
A few months ago I wrote on the theme “A Cup of Tea” about fine bone china (Click on http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2008/03/13/a-cup-of-tea/) Nearly everyone who spoke to me told me the same thing – that that article meant so much to them because it reminded them of their dear old mother, now deceased who valued so highly the dinner set/tea set/cup, saucer and plate set that she was given for her wedding. This fine china was used at every important family occasion, celebration, anniversary and funeral, and for important visitors. The fine china, which had been left in mother’s estate, was now still in the owner’s crystal cabinet. Fine bone china reminded them of their dear mother.
We have never had the money to buy fine bone china collectables. Some people have collected Toby jugs, figurines, Christmas plates, and special editions celebrating the opening of the Opera House or Royal wedding. (I do not think they celebrate royal divorces with a plate!) We can admire them, but we have never collected a set or series. Except one.
It is a Royal Doulton series like Mrs. Hyacinth Bucket collects. Royal Doulton porcelain and china takes its name from John Doulton, who in 1815 joined a Pottery in Lambeth, England. The firm soon assumed the name of Doulton and made a wide variety of decorative objects for an affluent buyer. Their pottery came to the attention of the British Royal family. By 1885, Doulton was producing world-class wares for an international clientele. By the late 19th century, Doulton had won honours at major international exhibitions, and was producing a tremendous variety of figurines, vases, character jugs, and other decorative pieces.
While production was interrupted for the two World Wars, the years in between offered Royal Doulton a period of great prosperity. Doulton always produced fine English china sets for both a domestic and international market, but after World War II production shifted to these simpler designs which could be mass produced at a price more people could afford. Today, Royal Doulton is still producing popular figurines and fine bone china as well as the Doulton Lambeth line of stoneware. The Royal Doulton Group is now the largest manufacturer of ceramics in Britain.
My wife Beverley greatly loved her older sister Gwen. Gwen and her husband did not have children of their own, and our children became the delight of their Auntie Gwen’s life. Gwen was so generous with spending her time with them and nothing was too good for them if she thought it would bring them pleasure. It was a time in our life when we were under mortgage stress. There was much belt tightening on non-essentials, but both agreed we should buy Gwen something for Christmas she would really enjoy in appreciation for all that she did for our children.
So for Christmas 1979 we bought her a Royal Doulton plate, the first in a series of six to be produced one a year for the next six years. The series was called, “All of God’s Village People”. This first one was called “A brighter Day”. The series would feature two or three children, each from a village in a different part of the world, and from most of the continents. The oil paintings were by the renowned Belgium artist, Lisette DeWinne, regarded as one of the world’s finest painters of children. Her discerning eye and ability to paint emotions created a warm and beautiful response from the viewer.
Gwen loved it instantly and knowing our financial sacrifice indicated that she would get each of the other plates as they were released. True to her word, in 1980 she purchased No 2. This plate depicts village children of Nepal taken from a painting DeWinne did from a photograph she had taken in a Nepalese market. Like all of the Royal Doulton series it was limited to just 10,000 plates, with set numbers for major countries. Australia was limited to 1,000 plates. Each plate is individually numbered and bears the signature of Lisette DeWinne, and a paper label placed by the inspector of Royal Doulton.
Gwen enjoyed her two plates and we were glad because Gwen was battling cancer. She died age 53, in September 1981, while I was preaching as an associate speaker in the San Jose Crusade California with Billy Graham. Mr. Graham asked me to sit with him that night in the Spartan Stadium and he prayed for Gwen and Beverley before the crowd of 60,000 people.
In her will, Gwen left the two plates to Beverley along with many of her other precious possessions. A year or so later, on April 23rd 1983, in London I was preaching in Westminster Hall and City Temple, and walking down the street we saw in a shop window the next in the series, # 3. It is called “Noble Heritage”. The English pound was very expensive in regard to the Australian dollar but we had no hesitation in buying it in remembrance of Gwen.
At Christmas that year the 1983 plate was released. In the week before Christmas, David Jones told me they had some in. I purchased the next in the series “My Little Brother”. It also is a beautiful plate. We very nearly did not have it. I was carrying my bag of papers, some other parcels and the plate gift-wrapped in its protective box. I was in a rush. I was speaking at a special Christmas Service at Wesley Hospital in Ashfield. It was always a great service with large crowds present.
Four hours later I was unpacking the car at home and I couldn’t find the plate! I was devastated, as I then remembered putting it on the roof of the car parked next to mine while I unlocked the car. Of course it would not still be there. Someone would have taken it, or it would have fallen when the car drove off. But I raced into the heart of the city at full speed, and there where I had parked was the other car, with a Christmas package still wrapped on its roof! Never had a heart been so full of thanksgiving to God.
You can be sure that the next year I was first in line to purchased “Sisterly Love” the sixth and final one in the series. But we still did not have #4. It came out at a difficult time and I was unable to buy it. I put it off until I had a little more money. But by the time I had enough money, not a plate was to be found. I checked all the Sydney stores and some in Melbourne, but to no avail. I contacted Royal Doulton but they did not have one left. There was a worldwide demand for this series and people told me I could never get a new one, but perhaps, because their value had gone up so much, I might find one in a place that sold such collectables. Some hope. Everybody in charge knew the series, but no-one had seen any come onto the market. I tried everywhere for the next few years to no avail. It is always disappointing to have only part of a set. But the collecting of a series is the really meaningful part, not just owning it.
Then twenty years ago this week, July 31st 1988, I was in Canada where I was guest preacher at the huge North American Baptist Convention in the Saddledome in Calgary. The morning service had finished, and Beverley and I were walking past the closed shops back to our hotel. It was 4 pm on a quiet Sunday afternoon, and as we passed a second-hand store, I saw it in the window! It was our missing #4, “Buddies”. There was all sorts of junk in the window, but there was only one plate, and it was ours! But the shop was closed, and early next morning we were flying back to Australia. I made three phone calls to Sydney just to check the number, packed our bags for an early departure, and went first thing back to the store to await the owner opening his shop.
Fortunately, he came to open early. We did not indicate any desperation lest the price be put up. He asked a ridiculously low price and the deed was done! Twenty years ago our set was complete. The six plates with their years of memories hang on our bedroom wall. They will be part of our heritage of fine bone china we leave for our children, and with them this record of our searching.
Rev The Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes, A.C., M.L.C.
